Inclusion Criteria

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

- Histologically or cytologically confirmed non-small cell lung cancer, including
adenocarcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, large cell carcinoma, or combination of
these histologies

- Stage IIIB (i.e., pleural T4) disease

- Stage IV disease

- Recurrent disease after prior surgery or radiotherapy allowed provided disease
is in an area that was not previously irradiated

- Measurable disease by CT scan or MRI

- No symptomatic brain metastasis

- Activity of Daily Living Scale score ≥ 4

- Instrumental Autonomy of Daily Living Scale score ≥ 4

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age

- 70 and over

Performance status

- Not specified

Life expectancy

- More than 3 months

Hematopoietic

- Neutrophil count > 1,500/mm^3

- Platelet count > 100,000/mm^3

- Hemoglobin > 10 g/dL

Hepatic

- Transaminases < 1.5 times normal

- Bilirubin normal

- Alkaline phosphatase < 2.5 times normal

- Pre-albumin > 1.5 mg/dL

Renal

- Creatinine clearance > 30 mL/min

Cardiovascular

- No congestive heart failure

- No unstable angina pectoris

- No myocardial infarction within the past year

- No uncontrolled hypertension

- No uncontrolled high-risk arrhythmias

Gastrointestinal

- No active peptic ulcer

- No inflammatory bowel disease

Neurologic

- No history of dementia or seizures that would preclude giving informed consent

- No peripheral neuropathy ≥ grade 2

- No history of significant neurologic disorders

Immunologic

- No history of hypersensitivity to the study drug or drugs formulated with polysorbate
80

- No active uncontrolled infection

Other

- No history of psychotic disorders

- No uncontrolled diabetes mellitus

- No absolute contraindication to corticosteroid use

- No other malignancy within the past 5 years except basal cell skin cancer or
carcinoma in situ of the cervix

- No geriatric depression scale score ≥ 12/15

- No familial, social, geographical, or psychological reason that would preclude study
follow up

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy

- Not specified

Chemotherapy

- No prior chemotherapy for stage IIIB or IV non-small cell lung cancer

- No other concurrent chemotherapy

Endocrine therapy

- No concurrent chronic treatment with corticosteroids except low-dose (i.e.,
methylprednisolone ≤ 20 mg/day or equivalent) treatment that was initiated > 6 months
ago

Radiotherapy

- See Disease Characteristics

Surgery

- See Disease Characteristics

Other

- More than 30 days since prior active participation in another therapeutic clinical
trial

- No other concurrent anticancer therapy

- No other concurrent investigational drugs